Photo: Google Street View

UPDATE 7:45 p.m.

Traffic is flowing again on Highway 33.

Platoon Captain Tim Light said Superior Propane was on scene earlier in the afternoon pumping out the comprised propane tank. He said the Highway was reopened at about 4:30 p.m.

There have been reports on social media of flaring at the gas station related to the propane leak. It appears crews may be burning off excess propane. Castanet will request additional information from the fire department.

UPDATE: 3:50 p.m.

A Superior Propane employee has arrived at the Centex gas station on Highway 33, and the employee is pumping propane out of the leaking propane tank.

Highway 33 is still believed to be closed for the time being. 

ORIGINAL: 3:05 p.m.

A propane leak has shut down Highway 33 in Rutland Saturday afternoon.

A large 5,000 pound propane tank at the Centex gas station near the intersection with Dougall Road has closed Highway 33 in both directions, between Dougall and Roxby roads.

Kelowna Fire Department Deputy Chief Sandra Follack said they currently have crews on scene, and they're asking the public to keep clear of the area.

“We're keeping an area cordoned off until we can get the propane leak stopped, so we're asking all people to stay away from the area if they don't need to be there,” Follack said.

“We're just keeping it safe until we get the propane shut down.”

She said there's a specific person who's able to shut off the propane, and they're just waiting for that person to arrive.

“If anybody's wanting to go to that mall on Highway 33 there is no access to it at this time,” she said.

Follock said she could not provide any information as to what caused the leak.